Hi peeps,
(setting the scene). I endured another very frustrating day on the bristol waters yesterday. Got back from hol had about 4 hours sleep and turned up at chew to good conditions, fishing rising etc i literally put my bag down to start setting up near gale conditions started hard from my left to right along with 1ft waves breaking at my feet. i went back to the lodge after trying a few spots but unable to fish due to the wind many locals had backed up and left. spoeaking to them they adviced the barrows. fished there numerous times and enjoyed a few good/ and bad sessions.
i fished the nymphs (buzzer on point) diawl bach on dropper/s.
Fish were showing and being caught, HERE IS MY PROBLEM. I hooked a fish at distance which took to the air and came off within seconds, i carried on and had too solid takes that nearly pulled me in but no fish
i had a couple of more subtle takes but again no cigar.
Am i doing anything wrong, with these savage takes? Should i strike? or just lift? is it anything to do with being a lot higher than the water level? i fish nymphs on still waters without any real problems, is it just one of those things?another thought is i am using non stretch airflo lines (not that i am relaistically going to buy/carry around more flexible lines).
ADVICE PLEASE SO FRUSTRATED

I don't think you're necessarily doing anything wrong. Fish hooked at distance are notoriously diffficult to keep attached, and by the tiime you felt the pull the fish was probably swimming free! as for the savage takes, presuming the line's tight, the fish will usually hook themselves, continue retrieving untill the whole lot just goes solid and the fish is on. I rarely 'strike' at a retrieved fly fished at distance. it all goes solid and i lift. the fish may not be hooked for myriad reasons, but it's probably not your fault. If i had to give advice it'd be to keep retrieving until you get 'lockup', vary your retrieve speed, and check your hooks are sharp!!

Cheers
Alex

I've found that with distance takes, it is better to strike by pulling the line first, then gently lifting. The line is pulled directly into the direction of the fish from you hand.
When lifting the rod to strike, there is a lot more resistance in the water, this all takes up valuable split seconds; time which is granted in favour of the trout

Gary

Hello Kenster

I often fish same venue.Seems like you might be waiting for the pull which is often too late.Sometimes you will be lucky and they will stick and just pull the rod round.Best advice I can give is stay in touch with your team of nymphs at all times and to focus on the line between the rod tip and the water surface to detect a take earlier.Should it stall in any way as in lifting or falling back it is most likely a take which would probably develop into the jolt you feel next.We all have our preferences of how we react.Mine is to draw the line with my retrieving hand whilst smoothly sweeping the rod sideways or at least I think this is how I do it.I am currently using the airflo 6th sense low/non stretch lines which seem to set the hook well at distance but I also use furled leaders which do have some give in them.I use an Enigma EMG 10ft 7wt for most of my reservoir nymph fishing which is quite a forgiving rod for this type of fishing and possibly helps with hook ups as do not tend to bump too many fish although have my moments just like you seem to have been through usually when I am taking in the flora and fauna like we oft times do until the rod is nearly pulled from your grasp as happened to you At least it would appear they like your nymphs

Best JP

Guys thanks for your thoughts. I thought about the watching the line at the rod tip but again when you are so high above the water it is hard to do this as there is too much line between the tip and water to work correctly (my thoughts anyway). i also use the enigma 10ft rod which as you say is forgiving.
I just want to fish the natural way and imitative but it makes me want to move away from it and do more ungamely things

i used to have the same problem fishing with nymphs at a distance. i spoke to an old guy fishing close by me one day who i thought was catching on a dry all afternoon. it turns out he was fishing a team of nymphs tied new zealand style onto a deer hair daddy. i decided to give this method a go and i've never looked back since.

the daddy has a double effect. firstly, when a fish takes a nymph, you see the daddy dissapear instantly. this pretty much doubles your reaction time when it comes to striking. secondly, the daddy itself can be taken by a surface feeding trout.

this method covers all the bases as far as bite detection and covering all depths of water is concerned. also, i dont like using plastic indicators, so this is a good compromise.

give it a go, you'd be surprised how effective it is.

Thought i had posted a reply but it doesn't seem to have appeared?????
i have never officially tried this method i have used sedge with buzzers underneath etc. Steve how do you tie them? from my memory you tie the nymphs to the shank of the daddy? would really appreciate if you could let me know how you tie it etc? i'm off on a biys weekend in a couple of weeks hopefully to farmoor would love to try it out, cheers jon

in that situation i would imediately start to retrieve the fly once its hit the water,especially if the fly's at distance windy and high water.
it seems to work for me.also in choppy water im a firm believer in wets, either on a floater or inter line.
just my tupence.

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